The birth of 2025 resounded in Amritapuri with prayers to honour the endless path of time. On New Year’s Eve, people gathered with Amma to express gratitude for their lives with her as a guiding light.
In her address, Amma spoke about the auspiciousness of welcoming the new year, regardless of the challenges our world faced throughout 2024:
“Once again, we find ourselves at this auspicious occasion of welcoming the new year. The arrival of something new always brings happiness. So, with hope, enthusiasm and joy, we welcome the new year.
“The year 2024, now bidding us farewell, was marked by conflicts and wars—a reality that needs no elaboration. Tragedies like the landslides in Wayanad, the floods in Spain, and other natural disasters across the globe brought immense sorrow. Amma wishes for a peaceful and prosperous new year that brings happiness to all.
“As time moves forward, changes naturally occur around us, for change is the only constant in nature. Yet, with the right effort on our part, many of these changes can be steered in a positive direction.
“Our lives gain true meaning when we are guided by a higher ideal. Amma wishes that her children, enriched with discernment and compassion, become shining role models for the world. May the new year pave the way towards this vision,” she shared.
As a concrete example of how to achieve Amma’s vision, people from around the world joined in inspiring cultural performances, both traditional and modern. In doing so, they shared their true inner happiness through beautifully moving external expressions.
Joining the festivities were members of AYUDH from 28 countries as they marked the end of ‘A Meeting of Hearts’ – their three-day international conference. AYUDH is our global youth wing and this year’s gathering included more than 250 representatives.
After deepening their connections with each other and Amma, they expressed union as a powerful movement to lead change for a better world. The members who performed for Amma during the New Year’s Eve program shone with hope.
Having watched the performances with a gracious smile upon her face, Amma led everyone in meditation and prayers for world peace. As is her way, she then united all present in the blissful singing of bhajans to express pure devotion to the Divine – the universal power that is beyond all time.
As per tradition, Amma ended the night by distributing prasad (blessed food) to the thousands of people present. This year it was in the form of payasam, a South Indian pudding made by boiling milk, sugar or jaggery, and rice. The sweetness was enjoyed by everyone both on their tongues and in their hearts.
